Page 129 of I Knew You Were Trouble

‘Of course not. It all works. You did it for a reason, we get that now.’

I bite my lip, feeling a fraction vindicated.

‘I was still watching it the next day for like the fifth time. I was on the couch, sitting next to Rav before I hear this big crash and the door slams. Aidey comes into the house and screams my name. When I saw his face, it was like Vegas all over again, his eyes were full of rage. That’s when I picked this up, when he launched himself at me.’

Miller points to the wounds on his face.

‘Wait. Aidan was the one who hurt you?’ I breathe.

Miller shrugs. ‘Looks worse than it is. He said if I ever spoke to you like that again, he would end me. I believed him. He’s still pissed at me.’

‘Oh,’ I mumble, because I don’t know what else to say.

‘I’m sorry for what I said to you during my interview. I was an asshole and way outta line.’

I nod in acceptance of his apology.

‘But you don’t have to worry. He’s gonna straighten everything out.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean all that bullshit the management and record company spewed out. Aidey flew out to California with Ziggy yesterday. They’ve got some meetings lined up.’

‘What?’ I stare at him, my jaw working, yet no sound forthcoming. ‘What? I thought he had some kind of family emergency.’

Miller pulls a face. ‘Nah, that’s what we told those TV producers. And I can hardly go live with this face. ’Til it heals, Ziggy’s got me benched.’

I shoot to my feet, reeling. ‘You mean… I don’t… what?What?Aidan’s in California?Defendingmy documentary?’

Miller nods, like it’s nothing at all. ‘And Lexi?’

I can’t even form a response. Miller pours the last of the Coke into his mouth, crushing the can in one hand. He swallows. ‘Thanks for not making me look like a bad guy. I mean, I still look like the bad guy, but every band needs one, right?’

I start pacing, clasping my hands together. Aidan has gone to Silicon Valley. For me. Yet he’s still not replied to my phone message. He’s said nothing at all to me about the documentary.

‘I should prolly bounce,’ Miller says, getting to his feet. ‘Thanks for the cola. Where do you want this?’

He’s holding out the crushed can. I take it from him, my mind still spinning.

‘So what do I do now?’ I ask.

Miller looks down at my hands. ‘Uh. Recycle it, I guess?’

‘No, not the can. Aidan. California. The film… I… I don’t understand.’

‘What’s there to understand? He’ll straighten it all out. He’s good at that stuff.’

I stare at his face, at his purplish swelling and cut lip. Miller stood in my flat still feels like some kind of alternative reality.

‘See you around, Lex,’ he says, and heads for my front door.

When Miller is gone, I get on the phone to Simone, still pacing inside my flat.

‘Sim, please tell me what on earth is going on.’

‘I wish I could. There’s a meeting taking place this afternoon in Palo Alto they want me to dial into, but that’s not until later tonight London time. Everybody I ask doesn’t seem to know what’s happening. How have you heard something?’

I don’t want to admit that a member of Rebel Heart gave me the information. ‘Well, will you please call me with an update later? I don’t care how late it is.’

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